Electric-circuit-controlling appliance



April 15, 1930. J, SACHS 1,754,444

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONTROLLING APPLIANCE Original Fil'ed Dec. 10 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 15, 1930. J, SACHS 1,754,444

- ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONTROLLING APPLIANCE Original Filed Dec. 10, 1926' 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 Jim/5272271" 3 Jasga z 550225 Hid-army April 15, 1930. J, s cHs ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONTROLLING APPLIANCE Original Filed Dec. 10 I 1 sheets shee,c

Emmi-0r Jaaguh 550.65

2 ZZZUfK gy Patented Apr. 15, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH SACHS, OF WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT ELECTRIC-CIRCUIT-CONTROLLING APPLIANCE Original application filed December 10, 1926, Serial No. 153,966. Divided and thla application filed June as, 1929. Serial No. 374,727.

The invention relates particularly to a circuit controlling appliance such as a fused switch, but as to some of its features it is not necessarily so limited. In a device of this type the stationary switch contacts are mounted upon an insulating base or body and the fuse contacts when provided are also mounted upon the said body and are connected in series with the switch contacts. The present application is a division of my copending application for Electric circuit controlling appliance, Serial No. 153,966, filed December 10, 1926.

In accordance with the present invention, I provide a circuit cont-rolling appliance of the general type set forth in my copending application, but having certain novel and advantageous features and combination of features. The insulating bodyisprovided with a slot or passage extending therethrough adjacent or alongside the fuse contacts and two stationary switch contacts are secured to the body at opposite sides of the passage. Extending through and longitudinally movable in the passage is a connector carrying near one end a contact or switch blade adapted to connect the stationary switch contacts and provided near the other end with means such as a slot for engagement with an actuating device such as a cranked spindle.

In accordance with another phase of the invention,the slot or passage through the insulating base or body is made narrow and the contact on the switchin member is movable into the slot to assist .1I 1 extinguishing any arcs that may be formed. The passage may be further provided with are rupturing chambers for more effectively extinguishing the arcs.

In accordance with still another phase of the invention, the portion of the insulating body carrying the fuse contacts and the switch contacts, that is the base, is supported upon a rear supporting wall, as for instance the rear wall of an enclosing cabinet, by means of insulating blocks structurally separate therefrom, these blocks however forming a part of the entire insulating body.

- In the accompanying drawings I have sho'wntwo embodiments of the invention, but

it will be understood that these embodiments are. intended for illustrative. purposes only and are not tobe construed .as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, theclaims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawings:

Fig. l-is a front view ofan appliance embodylng the invention, this View showing the switch handle in the position corresponding. to the closed position of the switch and showin the fuse cover in closed osition.

ig. 2 is a side elevation o the parts shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front view similar to ig. 1 but showing the handle in the position corresponding to the open position of the switch and showing the fuse cover in open position.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the switch and fuse block separate from the cabinet.

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the switch and fuse block shown in Fig. 4, this view also showing the switch operating handle and in addition showing the cabinet in section along the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5. v

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the lines 77 of Figs. 4 and 6.

Fig; 8 is a perspective view of ore ofthe sliding switch members.

Fig. 9 is a front view of a different appliance embodying the invention, this View showing the enclosing cabinet but not the entire front cover therefor which may be similar in construction to that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a bottom view of the parts shown in Fig. 9,this view also showing the switch operating handle and showing the cabinet in section.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 12-12 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 13 13 of Fig. 9.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 8 of the drawings, 1 represents as an entirety an enclosing cabinet as r having a front cover 2 hinged to the cabinet body at 3, 3 and adapted to be held in closed position by means of a latch 4. For operating the switch appliance with the cabinet, there is provided an operating member 5 which extends through one side wall of the cabinet and is formed or provided with a manually operable handle 6. A stop member 7 limits movement of the handle 6.

\Vhen the appliance within the cabinet is provided with fuses, it is ordinarily desirable to be able to get at the fuses without opening the main cover, and for this purpose I have shown the maincover 2 as provided with an opening 8 through which the fuses are accessible. For closing the opening 8 there is provided an auxiliary cover 9 which is movably mounted on the mam cover.

At S

shown the auxiliary cover 9 is movable transversely, this cover being shown in its closedposition in Fig. 1 and being shown in its open position in Fig. 3. If desired, the auxiliary cover 9 may have an interlocking relationship with the switching mechanism so that the said cover can be opened only when the switch is open and so that the switch cannot be closed when the cover is open. The auxiliary cover 9 and the handle 6 may be so related as to directly engage each other to provide the required interlocking function, as set forth in detail in my patents for Enclosed fused switches. Nos. 1,721,493, 1.721394 and 1,721,495 all issued July 16, 1929. In Figs. 1 and 2 the handle 6 is shown in switch closing position, and it directly obstructs any opening movement of the auxiliary cover 9. In Fig.3 the handle 6 is shown in switch opening position, and the auxiliary cover 9 is in open position, thus obstructing any closing movement of the handle 6.

Positioned within the cabinet is an insulating body which comprises the parts designated by the numbers 10, 11, 11 and 11", all of which are normally in fixed relation to each other. Of these parts the main part 10 may be designated as a base and the parts 11, 11 and 11 may be designated as supporting blocks for the base. The blocks 11, 11 and 11 may engage a plate or sheet 12 of insulating material located at the rear. In the case of a fused switch, the baselO serves for supporting the fuse contacts, and the switch contacts are also immediately associated with the base, some of themordinarily being directly connected therewith. The fuse contacts and the switch contacts may be located on different faces of the base, as for instance opposite faces, but this is not essential as concerns the certain phases of thepresent invention.

The parts of the insulating body are secured to the rear wall 13 of the cabinet by means of screws 14, 14 which extend through suitable registering holes in the base 10 and in the blocks 11, 11. As shown tubes 15, 15

of insulating material surround the screws 14, 14 and serve to directly connect the blocks 11, 11 with the base independently of the said screws.

Each tube 15 preferably also extends through the plate 12 to hold it in asher of fuses and switches. 'The fuse and .switch contacts as shown are symmetrically disposed with respect to the vertical central plane of the 'appliance'and for the sake of convenience and simplicity of description, I will describe only those parts on one side of the said plane, it being understood that the parts on the other side are, or may be, the same in construction except for reversal of positions.

The two fuse contacts constituting a fuse socket are shown at 16 and 17, these being accessible from the front and preferably mount-' ed directly on the front face of the base 10. The fuse contacts shown are adapted for receiving a cartridge enclosed fuse such as F, but it will be understood that the invention is not limited for use with fuses of this particular type.

The parts 10, 11, 11 and 12of the insulating body are so formed and so related to each other as to provide a passage 18 extending entirely through said body adjacent or alongside of the fuse socket constituted by the contacts 16 and 17.

Secured to the insulating body near one end of the passage 18 and at opposite sides thereof are stationary switch contacts 19 and 20. I have shown and prefer to provide other stationary switch contacts 21 and 22 which are or may be similar to the contacts 19 and and located at or near the opposite end of the guide passage 18 and at opposite sides thereof.

The two switch contacts 20 and 22 are carried respectively by supporting elements 23 and 24 which are connected with the base 10 by means of' screws 25, 25. v These screws extend through the base and serve to also hold the fuse contacts 16 and 17 in place. The screws 25 further serve to electrically connect the respective fuse contacts with the supporting elements 23 and 24 and thus with the switch contacts 20 and 23. Other supporting elements 26 and 27 are provided for supporting the switch contacts 19 and 21, these supporting elements being connected to the base by means of. screws 28, 28. Connected with the supporting elements 26 and 27 are wire terminals 29 and 30.

For establishing and breaking electrical connection between the two switch contacts 19 and 20, and preferably also between the two switch contacts 21 and 22, I provide a switching member which includes an element or connector which extends through the passage 18 and is guided for longitudinal rec tilinear movement therein. This element or connector is shown as being of insulating material in the form of a fiat plate 31, which at one edge preferably directly engages the base 10 to be guided thereby. The said insulating element or connector 31 may be guided at the opposite edge by the rear plate 12.

Carried by the insulating element or connector 31 is a contact element or switch blade 32 which extends transversely of the insulating element 31 and is adapted to engage or coact with the contacts 19 and 20 at the front of the body to make or break electrical connection between them. There is also provided a second similar contact element or switch blade 33 adapted to engage or coact with the contacts 21 and 22 to make or break electrical connection between them. The two stationary switch contacts of each pair are spaced apart transversely of the direction of movement of the switching member,'and the corresponding transversely extending contact element or switch blade serves to electrically connect them. It will be apparent, particularly from an inspection of Figs. 4 and 6, that with the connector 31 and the contacts or switch blades 32 and 33 in the positions shown, an electrical circuit is established through the appliance. This circuit extends from the terminal 30 through the switch parts 27, 21, 33, 22 and 24 and screw 25 to the lower fuse contact 16. From the upper fuse contacts 17 the circuit extends through the screw.

25 and the switch parts 23, 20, 32, 19 and 26 to the wire terminal 29. When the switching member is moved longitudinally, as for instance downward from the position shown,

. the contacts or switch blades 32 and 33 are disengaged from the stationary switch contacts 19, 20 and 21, 22, thus breaking the circuit.

As already stated, there is provided an operating member 5. This member is provided with a cranked section 34 which is formed between two pivot sections 35 and 36. As shown these pivot sections are mounted in bearing clips 37 and 38, but it will be underdependently of the insulating body. It will be obvious that when the handle 6 is turned the cranked section 34 is similarly turned.

The cranked section 34 is operatively connected with the insulating element or connector 31'and as shown this connection is formed by providing a transverse slot 39 in the connector through which the cranked section 34 extends. It will be observed that the operating member with its cranked section and the slot 39 in the connector 31 are positioned at the opposite end of the pgssage 18 from the said switch contacts 19 and 20. Fig.

7 shows the cranked member and the switch ing member in their upper connection making positions. It will be obvious that when the cranked member is moved by meims of the handle in the counter-clockwise direction, the connector 31 will be moved downward so as to carry the movable contacts or switch closed and claimed in my copending application for Switch operating mechanism, Serial No. 365,420, filed May 23, 1929 as a division-of my aforesaid application Serial No. 153,966.

It will be observed that the insulating body does not in any way limit the longitudinal movement of the switchin member, such movement being normally limited by reason of its engagement with the cranked section of the operating member. When the switching member is disengaged from the operating member, as it may be by loosening the screws 14, 14 and removin the insulating body, then the switching mem er is free to be completely removed from the insulating body by moving it endwise through the passage 18.

The before mentioned passage 18 has the additional function of providing a narrow or restricted path for the upper movable contact element 32, this path being of approximately the same width as the said contact. If it be assumed that in opening, the switch member move into the above described restricted path and that there will thus be a tendency to break any are that might form, as the arc would not readily follow into the restricted passage, but would on the contrary expand outward into the unrestricted space. In this respect, the Walls of the passage cooperate directly with the insulating element 31 which acts as an insulating barrier between the stationary switch contacts 19 and 20.

It may be desirable to make a stillfurther provision for muiliing or extinguishmg any are which might be formed. For this purpose, I have shown a construction of the type set forth in my Patent 1,554,528, dated September 22, 1925. In each of the walls forming the before-mentioned restricted path for the movable switch contact, 1 provide a series or a plurality of chambers 41, 41 which are in close proximity to and which are open to the said path for receiving and condensing areformed ases. When the contact 32 is moved to open t e circuit, the gases of any arcs which tend to form expand into the chambers 41, 41 and become cooled and condensed so that the arcs are immediately ruptured. These chambers provide large or extended areas of cooling surfaces which instantly condense the hot are tormed gases. Vents 41, 41 may be ])l'0V l(l tl for some of the chambers 41, 41. It will be'understood that if desired similar provision may be made for lnuflling or rupturing the arcs which may be formed at the other switch contacts but this is ordinarily not necessary and such means are therefore not shown.

In Figs. 9 to 13 I have shown a construction which is similar in function to that shown in Figs. 1 to 8, but which differs in many details of construction.

The insulating body, instead of being formed in several pieces, is formed as a single integral piece, this being designated as an entirety by 10. The cabinet and the switch operating member are, or may be, substantially the same as already described and repetition of the description is unnecessary.

The insulating body or base 10 is secured to the war wall of the cabinet by means of screws 14, 14. As shown a sheet 42 of insulating material is interposed between the base 10 and the rear wall of the cabinet, but this is not essential. The base 10 is formed with passages 18, 18 extending entirely therethrough as clearly shown in Fig. 12. F use contacts 16 and 17 are provided on the front of the base which constitute a socket for a fuse F of the plug type.

Secured to the base 10 near one end of the passage 18 and at opposite sides thereof are stationary switch contacts 19 and 20, and

other stationary switch contacts 21 and 22 are provided near the opposite end of the guide passage 18 and at opposite sides there'- of. The switch contacts 20 and 22 are carried by supporting elements 23 and 24 which are connected respectively with the fuse contacts 17 and 16 as shown most clearly in Fig. 11. Other supporting elements 26 and 27 are provided for supporting the stationary switch contacts 19 and 21 these supporting elements being connected to the base by means of screws 28, 28. Connected with the supporting elements 26 and 27 are wire terminals29 and 30.

For establishing and breaking-electrical connection betweenthe switch contacts 19- and.20 and also between the switch contacts 21 and 22 there is provided a switching member which includes an element or connector extending through the passage 18 and guided for longitudinal rectilinear movement therein. This element or connector is designated at 31, being similar to the connector 31 already described and being similarly provided with contact elements or switch blades 32 and 33. As shown in Fig. 6 the switching member is in connection making position and it will be obvious that when the switching member is moved downward, connection is broken between the contacts 19 and 20 and also between the contacts 21 and 22*.

The connector 31 is provided with a transverse slot 39 for receiving the cranked section of the operating member. This slot-39 is open at. the front instead of at the rear, but it is otherwise similar in position and in function to the slot 39.

The construction shown in Figs. 9 to 13 is particularly adapted for use as a meter service switch, but it will be understood that the meter service features of the device constitute no part of the present invention.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In an electric switch, the combination of an insulating body having a passage extending entirely therethrough, a switching member comprising an element located in part in the passage and guided for rectilinear movement longitudinally thereof and having a transverse slot therein beyond one end of the passage and the said member also comprising a transverse conducting clement carried by the first said element near the opposite end of the passage, two stationary switch contacts mounted in normally fixed positions on the body near the last said end of the passage and spaced apart transversely of the direction of movement of the switching member, the said stationary contacts be ing positioned to be each engaged and disengaged by the conducting element of the switching member as the said member is moved rectilinearly, and a pivoted operating member supported independently of the body and having a cranked portion entering the transverse slot in the first said element of the switching member and serving upon being pivotally moved to move the switching mem ber rectilinearly as aforesaid.

2. In an electric switch, the combination of an insulating body having a passage extending entirely therethrough from one face to an opposite face, a switching member comprising an element located in part in the passage and guided for rectilinear movement longitudinally thereof and having a transverse slot therein beyond one end of the passage and the said member also comprising a transverse conducting element carried by the first said element near the opposite end of the passage, two stationary switch contacts mounted in normally fixed positions on the body near the last said endof the passage and spaced apart transversely of the direction of movement of the switching member, the said stationary contacts being positioned to be each engaged and disengaged by the conducting element of the switching member as the said member is moved rectilinearly, a pivoted operating member supported independently of the body and having a cranked portion entering the transverse slot in the first said element of the switching member and serving upon being pivotally moved to move the switching member rectilinearly as aforesaid, a pair of fuse receiving contacts on a face of the body parallel to the direction of movement of the switching member, and a conductor extending through a part of the body and electrically connecting one switch contact with one fuse contact.

3. In an electric switch, the combination of an insulating body having a passage extending entirely therethrough, means for detachably holding the body in normally fixed relation to a rear support, a pivoted operating member supported independently of the body and having a cranked portion extending transversely of the passage near one end thereof, two stationary switch contacts mounted in normally fixed positions on the body near the opposite end of the passage and spaced apart, transversely of the longitudinal lines of the passage, and a switching member comprising an element located in part in the passage and guided for rectilinear movementlongitudinally thereof and having a transverse open-ended slot therein near one end to receive the transverse cranked portion of the operating member so as to be moved thereby and the said switching melnber also comprising a transverse conducting element carried by the first said element near the said opposite end of the passage and adapted to engage and disengage both of the stationary contacts to makeand break electrical connection between them, the said switching member as an entirety being normally limited as to longitudinal movement by reason of its engagement with the operating member and being freely removable from the body by longitudinal movement when the body is moved relatively to its support so as to permit disengagement of the switch member from the operating member.

4. In a switch, an insulating body, having a guide passage, a stationary contact secured to said body adjacent one side of said passage, a cooperatin stationary contact secured to said body ad] acent the opposite side of said passage, a connector guided in said passage, a movable switch member. carried by said connector, and a crank for operating said connector. 5. An enclosed switch including a box, a insulating body supported therein and having a guide passage therethrough, fuse sockets mounted on said body, circuit terminals mounted on said body, stationary switch contacts mounted on said body and connected to 7 said terminals, a movable switch member adapted to connect said contacts, a connector extending through said body and through said guide passage for actuating said switch member, an operating crank supported by said box and-having operable connection with said connector, and a cover extending over said switch member and having an opening for access to said fuse sockets.

6. In an electric switch, the combination of an insulating body having a narrow passage therethrou h, an insulating element rectilinearly mova le through the passage and having opposite flat faces, a conducting contact element carried by the insulating element and having opposite flat faces adjacent the opposite flat faces of the insulating element, the distance between the faces of the said contact element approximately the width of the pas-- sage, two stationary switch contacts carried by the insulating body adjacent the passageand positioned to be engaged respectively by the opposite faces of the contact element, the said stationary contacts being provided with means for connection in an electric circuit, and means for slidably moving the said insulating element to disengage the said mov able contact element from both stationary switch contacts and move it into the said narrow passage and to substantially simultaneously move the insulating element between the said stationary contacts so as to constitute an insulating barrier between them, the walls of the said passage and the said barrier cooperating to tend to prevent arcs from following the said contact element as it is moved in the disengaging direction. 1 l

7. In an electric switch, the combination of an insulating base, a movable insulating element having opposite flat faces positioned means for slidably moving the said insulating element to substantially simultaneously disengage the said movable contact element from the stationary switch contacts and to move the 1 insulating element between the said stationary contacts so as to constitute an insulating barrier between them, and means comprising walls in fixed relation to the base and forming a ath for the movable contact element restricted in width to approximately the thick ness of the said element, the said walls and the said barrier cooperating to tend to prevent arcs from following the said contact element as it is moved in the disengaging direction.

8. In an electric-switch, the combination of an insulating body having a narrow passage therethrough, an insulating element rectilinearly movable through the passage 'and having opposite flat faces, a conducting con.- tact element carried by the insulating element and having opposite flat faces adjacent the opposite flat faces of the insulating element,

the distance between the faces vof the said contact element approximately the width of the passage, two stationary switch contacts .carried by the insulating body adjacent the passage and positioned to be engaged respectively by the opposite faces of the contact element, the said stationary contacts being provided with means for connection in an electric circuit, and means for slidably moving the said insulating element to disengage the said movable contact element from both stationary switch contacts and move it into the said narrow passage, the opposite walls of the passage being provided with a plurality of chambers open to the said passage and adapted to receive and condense arc-formed gases. v

9. In an electric switch, the combination of an insulating base, a movable insulating .ele-

ment having opposite flat faces positioned perpendicularly to one face of the base, the said element being rectilinearly movable along the said face, a conducting contact element carried by the insulating element and having opposite flat faces adjacent the opposite flat faces of the insulating element, two stationary switch contacts carried by the base and positioned to be engaged respectively by the opposite faces of'the contact element, the said stationary contacts being provided with means for connection in an electric circuit, means for slidably moving the said insulating element to substantially simultaneously disengage the said movable contact element from the stationary switch contacts and to move the insulating element between the said stationary contacts so as to constitute an insulating barrier between them, and means comprising walls in fixed relation to the base and forming a path for the movable contact element restricted in width to approximately the thickness of the said element, each of the said walls being provided with a plurality of chambers open to the said path and adapted to receive and condense arc-formed gases.

10. In an electric switch, the combination of an enclosing cabinet having an openable front cover, an insulating base in the cabinet, insulating blocks structurally separate from the base engaging the rear wall of the cabinet independently of the side walls thereof for supporting the base in the cabinet in, fixed relation thereto and spaced from the said rear wall thereof, the said blocks being spaced. apart and being rigidly connected both with the cabinet and with the base, stationary switch contacts carried by the base adjacent the back thereof, a movable switch member between the base and the back wall of the cabinet and between the blocks for making and breaking electrical connection between, the said contacts, and means operableexter-J nally of the cabinet for operating the switch member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of June, 1929.

JOSEPH SACHS." 

